Putting on Airs in Bali

Rainy Season Resulting in High Durian Prices in Bali

(1/18/2014) Heavy rains have affected the current year’s harvest of durians – the uniquely Southeast Asia delicacy of a spike fruit claimed to “smell like hell, but taste like heaven."

Reduced harvest of the and restrictions on imports have caused prices to "spike" with demand outstripping supply.

Bisnis Bali reports that premium (unggal) durian is currently selling at Rp. 70,000 per piece (US$5.60). Meanwhile, class A and class B durians are going for Rp. 25,000 each (US$2); class C for Rp. 15,000 each (US$1.20); and the smallest durians of Class D selling for Rp. 10,000 each (US$0.80).

Komang Mawa, a durian farmer from Jembrana in East Bali said prices have remained consistently high since the start of the current harvest. Mawa says that he is currently selling between 50 and 70 durian each day across the entire price and class range. Consumers, however, have a preference for the least expensive Class D fruits. Those farmers specializing in “unggul” durian are reporting sales levels of only 40 pieces over the course of an entire week.

Farmers relate that durian tree fail to produce fruit in a continuously rainy situation, meaning the current season may yield a substantially smaller crop than in previous years.

For comparison purposes the “unggul” durian sold for only Rp. 30,000 (US$2.40) during the durian season of 2013.